i tvttt



vC. PLOHR. Combined Tan Vat and Stirrer.

Patented May 3,1881.

E www m m 7 1 f A// A TlTL. O mi l F n.0. E j ,W l gf V 2 wg E n MMM m3V l m m: m ww n, v 4 z N B m f f J. J.

WITNBssEs: @v/QM Ilivrrn STATES Parent FFICE COMBINED TAN-VAT ANDSTIRRER.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 240,988, dated May 3,1881.

Application tiled February 16, 1881. (No model.)

To all 'whom fit may concern Re it known that I, CHARLES FLOHR, ofCanisteo, Steuben county, NewYork, have invented a new and ImprovedColnbiued Tanning-Vat and Stirrer,ot` which the followingis aspecification.

In the ordinary process ot' tanningl leather the hides are thrown intothe vats that contain the tanning-liquor, and as the stronger and sourliquor in the vat settles to the bottom the hides havefrequently to behandled and moved about, that they may all of them, and all parts otthem, be equally exposed to the action ot' the liquor.

The objectot' this invention is to avoid the labor and cost ofthiscustomary handlingof the hides, and to agitate theliquor and expose thehide to the action thereotl in such a manner that the tanning processshall be more speedy and the hides more evenly tanned.

Figure l is a plan of the device; and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation online mx, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents the tanningvat, having a timber, A',extending centrally across its top, which timberA' has formed in it onboth sides a series otl sockets, a, corresponding with opposite sockets,b, formed in two sides ot' the said vat A. Fitted in these sockets a I),parallel with each other, are a number of bars, B, that form in et't'ecta grating covering the top of said vat A. It is designed to suspend thehides (represented at C) from these bars B, so that said hides C shallhang in the tanning-liquor ofthe vat A.

D is a vertical shaft stepped in the bottom of the vat A, as shown at c,and passing up throughthecenterofthetimberA'. Thisshaft D is provided atits lower end with radial arms or stirrers D', whereby the liquor isagitated when said shaft D is rotated, which may be done by means ofpower applied to the crank D2, or by any other suitable means.

C11 the inside of the vat A, and on the opposite sides thereof, arefastened horizontal battens or strips d, provided with series ofsocketsf, for receiving the ends of the horizontal bars E, that arestretched across the said vat A, just above the radial arms or stirrersD', to 5oprevent any of the hides C from coming in contact with saidarms or stirrers D', lest said hides C become injured by the blows ofsaid stirrers D when the latter are moving. These bars E are laid in acontrary direction to that of the bars B on the top of the said tank A,so that the suspended hides C shall not extend down between them. Areetangulartrarne, E', surrounding' the shaft D, supports the inner endsof some ot' the bars E. 6o

I do not confine myself to this special arrangement of the bars E, as itmay be modied without departing from myinvention, the design being toprevent contact between the stirrers and suspended hides.

The length of the arms or stirrers D' may be varied. Long arms may beused it' the shaft D be revolved slowly, and short arms may beused withequally good effect it' the shaft D be revolved rapidly. 7o

rIhe vat A being Iilled with tanning-liquor, and the hides C beingsuspended therein from the bars B, the shaft and stirrers orarrns D 1)are put in motion with the effect of keeping the liquor in constantagitation, and thusforcing fresh portions constantly against the saidhides C. The said hides C consequently absorb the tannin much morerapidly and evenly than 'if they were lying upon each other in stillliquor, as in the old process of tanning. 8o

'Ihe hides can, of course, be suspended by their ends or edges from thebars B, or as shown in the drawings.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Pat- S5 ent- 1 ln a tanning-vat, the combination, with thehide-suspending bars B and stirrer D D', of the cross-bars E,substantially as herein shown and described, said bars E being designedto 9o prevent contact between the suspended hides and the said stirrer,as set forth.

CHARLES FLOHR. Witnesses:

GEORGE JEFFERIES, DAVID FAILING.

